The Great Belt Fixed Link

Sprogoe Travel Blog

The bridge over Storebaelt between the islands Sjaelland and Fyn in Denamrk

Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula and more than 400 islands of which the largest are Zealand and Funen. Copenhagen, Denmark's capital, is located on Zealand.

Among the many ferry routes which have linked the Danish islands for centuries, by far the most important has been the route across the Great Belt between Funen and Zealand. Over the years, however, storms and hard winters have frequently disrupted ferry services across the Great Belt.

On June 10, 1987 the Danish Parliament approved the construction of a fixed link across the Great Belt. Following 12 years of intensive construction work, H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark inaugurated on June 14, 1998 what had then become the largest engineering project in the history of Denmark, The Great Belt Fixed Link.

The Link comprises the East Bridge, a 6,790 m long suspension bridge between Zealand and the small island of Sprogø, a 6,611 m long combined rail and road bridge between Sprogø and Funen and an 8,000 m long immersed rail tunnel between Zealand and Sprogø.

At 254 m above sea level, the East Bridge's two pylons are the highest points in Denmark.

Barring unforeseen events and special weather conditions, the Great Belt is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Signs provide clear information on road conditions on the bridge to motorists and warn of possible delays. These signs are operated by the police in accordance with signals from anemometers placed along the East Bridge